Home to school/college transport policy for post-16 students 2014/15

Transcription

1 Appendix D London Borough of Lambeth Home to school/college transport policy for post-16 students 2014/15 Introduction This policy describes how the London Borough of Lambeth will meet its duty to ensure that post-16 learners resident in Lambeth are able to access the education and training of their choice. In accordance with section 509AA of the Education Act 1996 (and subsequent amendments) the policy describes the arrangements for the provision of transport for year olds who are studying in appropriate education and training. Lambeth s policy for support with transport between home and school/college is set out below. For the majority of students, transport needs are currently met by the provision of free travel by Transport for London (TfL). Young people travelling by bus are required to obtain the appropriate Oyster card in place at the time. It is also the young person's responsibility to meet the requirements set by TfL for retaining an Oyster card. Scope of policy 1. Academic year: 1 August 2014 to 31 July Learner residency: young people who are resident in Lambeth. Learners not resident in Lambeth or who are looked after by another Council, but live in Lambeth, should refer to the transport policy issued by their local authority. 3. Learner age: young people aged over 16 but under 19 as at 31st August Learning institution: Young people who are engaged in education or training at: a school (including academies); a further education institution (including sixth form colleges); a local authority maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education; an establishment funded directly by the YPLA, e.g. independent specialist providers for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; a learning provider that is funded by the local authority to deliver accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes (this could include colleges, charities and private learning providers).

2 Available Support 1. Transport for London free and discounted travel Residents of London boroughs aged and in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme (at least 12 guided hours per -week on courses at level 3 and below) can apply for a 16+ Oyster photocard. The card gives: free travel on London buses and trams; half adult-rate Oyster single fares on the tube, DLR and London overground; child rate travelcard season tickets on the tube, DLR and London overground; half adult-rate Oyster single fares on some national rail services; child rate travelcard season tickets on national rail services. Free travel is available until the end of the course or the academic year, whichever is earlier. 18+ Student Oyster 18+ Student Oyster photo cards are available to students who are aged 18 and over, and are attending a full-time course (and in certain circumstances a part-time course) at universities, colleges and schools registered on the TfL. The 18+ student card gives 30% discount on bus, tram, tube, DLR, London overground and national rail travelcard season tickets. Application forms are available from Post Office branches throughout Greater London and areas that are served by the London bus, tube and overground networks. For further details visit Travel Mentoring Transport for London operate a Travel Mentoring scheme to support those aged 18+ to develop the skills and confidence to use public transport independently. For further details visit Bursary Fund From September 2011 young people who need some financial support to help them stay in education and training after age 16 can apply to their school, college or training provider for the new Bursary fund. For further information go to The bursary fund has two elements: Guaranteed bursary: Those most in need will be eligible for a bursary of 1200 a year. To qualify students must meet at least one of the following criteria: in receipt of income support; care leaver; in care;

3 disabled student in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Discretionary bursary: Providers may use their discretion to distribute any remaining funds to young people in ways that best fit the needs and circumstances of their students. Bursary funds should be targeted to young people facing financial barriers to participation, such as the costs of transport, book and equipment. Providers have discretion to set policy, administer and allocate funds which best suit the needs of its learners. All organisations should have a Bursary Fund policy which is available upon request. Applications should be made directly to the school, college or training provider. If a learner feels aggrieved about how their request for a bursary has been handled, they should follow the school s/college s/provider s standard complaints procedure. For further information on the bursary fund visit: 3. Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) EMA is now closed to new applicants. Transitional arrangements are in place to help those young people who are part-way through their studies and were in receipt on EMA previously, as follows: The most vulnerable learners currently receiving EMA (young people in care, care leavers and those on income support) will be eligible for the 1200 bursary in place of their current EMA weekly payments. Learners who successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 will continue to receive payments at the level set out in their EMA guarantee for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. Learners who successfully applied for the maximum weekly EMA payment of 30 in 2010/11 will be eligible for 20 for each week they are in education or training, until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. Learners who started Year 12 in September 2010 and who received either 10 or 20 a week EMA will no longer receive EMA but they can apply for a bursary from their school, college or training provider. 4. Care to Learn The Care to Learn scheme will continue to be available for parents in England who are under 20 when they start a course in 2014/15. The Care to Learn scheme will pay up to 175 per child per week to help with the cost of: childcare while the young person is learning, on work placements linked to the course or programme of study or doing private study; any registration fees (up to 80) or deposit (up to 250) charged by the childcare provider;

4 a childcare 'taster' (up to five days) aimed at helping the learner s child settle in before their learning starts; fees the learner needs to pay during summer holidays to keep the childcare place open; additional travel costs the learner has to pay so they can take their child from home to the childcare provider. The childcare provider will receive payments direct from Care to Learn. Funding to help with travel costs will be paid to the young person s learning or training provider regularly and the provider will reimburse the learner or arrange travel for them. For information on care to learn visit: 5. Support for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities The London Borough of Lambeth expects and would encourage most learners aged 16 to19 to travel independently on public transport because of the beneficial effects this can have on the young person s development. However, we recognise that in some circumstances, additional assistance with travel may be required. Applications will be considered from year old students against the following criteria: The learner is subject to an SEN statement or 139a assessment. Lapsed statements will be considered. The learner is aged between 16 and 19 and is on a course of further education at a school, college or training provider. The course is deemed to be suitable and will provide an educational benefit to the learner as assessed by the learner s transition adviser and/or an educational psychologist nominated by the Local Authority. The need for specific travel assistance has been identified in the learner s statement of special educational needs or transition plan. The learner lives more than 3 miles from school or college and is unable to undertake the journey by free public transport, with assistance where appropriate. The learner has a disability or learning difficulty that would make it impracticable or dangerous for them to try to undertake a journey to school or college of less than 3 miles. Applications will be assessed on their own merits. If a learner has been provided with a motability allowance or vehicle, then this will be taken into account If a student is in receipt of an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), up to a third of the value of the EMA will be taken into account in any decision about the amount of travel assistance that may be provided. The offer of assistance will be determined by a Panel based on individual needs and circumstances. Lambeth offer an Independent Travel Training scheme, which is amongst the options available. 6. Support for young people 19+

5 Young people with difficulties and disabilities who are 19 years old or older will be referred to Lambeth s Adult Social Care Department for consideration for transport. All applications will be considered individually. Adult Learning Disabilities Partnership Team, 7 th Floor, Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LL adultlearningteam@lambeth.gov.uk